SEM Haven - Monthly Update

Monthly Update, August 2008

SEM HAVEN RECEIVES QUALITY AWARD! SEM Haven is one of only 18 Ohio Health Care Association Members to have earned the American Health Care Association’s Step I Quality Award for 2008. It will be presented during the AHCA Annual Convention in Nashville in October. The AHCA Quality Award is a distinction given to member organizations for applying principles of continuous quality improvement. The Quality Award program is directly aligned with the Quality First Initiative. Participation in the award program helps providers adhere to the principles of Quality First and put in place processes that generate positive outcomes. Applicants are evaluated based on criteria adopted from the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) Health Care Criteria for Performance Excellence.

HOUSEHOLD HAPPENINGS - McCormick Landing - Roses, roses and more roses! We have a bumper crop that we have been enjoying from our patio, stop by for a look. We went to Bob Evans in Mason for lunch this month, per a resident’s request. We were treated with great service and conversation. The weather was beautiful and everyone enjoyed the ride. The residents want to start doing holiday crafts. If anyone has ideas to share please see Melody.
Gatch Grove - We are having a cookout on Aug 28^th, a USO tea & dance on the 21^st and a lunch outing to Longhorn Steak House on the 18^th.
Milcroft Manor - We have new patio furniture! Our court yard is looking great. Our annual Milcroft Manor Cookout is August 7 at noon. We will be having Live Entertainment by Dave Hawkins. Hope to see you there!
Ripple Ridge - We went to Cracker Barrel in July. We have enjoyed many of the fruits of our garden. Elizabeth Moore graciously made fried green tomatoes, a tomato, onion & zucchini dish, zucchini bread, as well as green beans fresh from our garden. We have also enjoyed fresh veggies in our salads like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. Betty Konrad joined the rosary makers from St. Andrew’s Church that meet at SEM Haven on Mondays. At 99, she amazes those who attend. She makes a rosary a week!
Kugler Woods - During the hot days of July we focused on food! We went to The Old Schoolhouse Restaurant for lunch. We also enjoyed a picnic in the courtyard with delicious steaks and chicken breast cooked on the grill by Wanda Estep. We had ice cream, watermelon and corn on the cob socials. Dorothy Seip, has been doing a magnificent job planting and maintaining the gardens inside and out - they have never looked better. A special thanks to Kroger’s who donated a small cart which we decorated with a sign that says “Dorothy’s Garden”. This really helps her carry all her garden supplies and water.
Shumard Rehab - We had another picnic & were happy to include resident Mary Schafer’s family and staff member Nancy Maltry’s daughter & grandchildren. It was good to have families join us and the residents enjoyed seeing the children. We are sharing continued success with residents participating in the rehabilitation programs at SEM Haven.

STAFF NEWS - We are proud of Jackie Turner, Stephanie Pemberton, Elizabeth Moore and Tim Bentley, our newest State Tested Nurse Aides. Congratulations to new grandpa, Tim Bentley. His grandson, Presley Hunter, was born August 1^st. Good luck to Sandy Vanover who has retired after fifteen years of service to our residents at SEM Haven.

SEM HAVEN CARNIVAL - At our carnival on August 27 at 2:00 we will have games to play, including tiger ring toss, fish pond, & floating ball toss. We are working on getting animals and there will be popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones. The carnival will be held in the gathering room and courtyard. We are in need of volunteers who would be willing to run one of the booths or transport a resident so they can attend the carnival. Call Nancy Maltry.

SEM HAVEN OLYMPICS - The Olympics will be held the week of Sept. 22^nd to 26^th. Instead of doing the entire Olympics in one day we will do events daily. Each household is responsible for organizing the event for one day. The mornings will consist of practice on the household & a pep rally. The afternoons will be one group event & one individual event. The opening ceremony will be on Monday; the closing ceremony on Friday.

RESIDENT OF THE MONTH (by Chaplain Bill): Paul Towle was born June 9, 1915 in Lawrence, Mass. His mom was a homemaker, and his dad was a carpenter who built houses. Paul graduated from the University of Mass. He had one brother, Herbert, who was a navy dentist, and quite successful. Paul worked as an insurance investigator until WWII, when he enlisted in the navy. He was a naval officer who was assigned to the sub chaser PC-16. He was then assigned to the USS Savannah, CL-42. She was hit by a German missile during the Sicily campaign and sent to Malta for repairs. Paul then became a member of the crew of the USS Wisconsin BB-64, where he was a gunnery officer over an anti-aircraft battery. Paul’s awards consisted of the American campaign medal; European, African, Middle Eastern campaign medal with two stars; Asiatic Pacific medal with silver star; WWII victory medal; and Philippians liberation ribbon.

After the war Paul worked for the FBI in Washington D.C. for thirty years, retiring from that job. He gave tours to family and friends whenever they came there. Paul knows a lot of interesting things about Washington. He and his wife, Hazel, (now passed away) had two daughters, Martha and Caroline, and one son Paul, Jr. He also has five grandchildren.

Paul’s favorite music was big band. His hobbies were sports, especially golf and watching his favorite teams (Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins and Washington Redskins). He was a “do it yourselfer”, including woodworking and painting. He and his family were members of the Methodist church. Paul has faith, and enjoys prayer in his room. I think a good verse for Paul is Psalm 27:1. It is a passage that has helped me through many years, and I hope will help him too. “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” Paul is a great guy. He’s done great things. I hope I can do more great things with him.

SOCIAL EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS - Nursing - August 3^rd & 10^th - Hawaiian Music & Luau with Bill, 4^th - Banana Split Social, 7^th - Ice cream in a Bag, 14t^h - Sem Haven Carnival, 27^th - Hawaiian Luau, 28^th - Watermelon Party.

Kugler Woods (Assisted Living) - August 5^th & 19^th - Piano with Ruth Schaefer and Manicures; 6^th - Devotions with Bill; 7^th - Lunch Outing (O’Charley’s); 20^th - History with Bill; 21^st - 60’s party with Elvis Impersonator; 22^nd - Nat’l Angel Day with Angel Crafts; 8^th, 15^th, 26^th and 29^th - Olympics Practice.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGING REMINDER - As reported last month, SEM Haven is participating in the 2008 Family Satisfaction Survey. If you receive the survey in the mail please complete and return it promptly. It is confidential; our staff will never have access to your individual answers. The information is used to improve quality and see how we compare to other homes. Results will be posted on the Ohio Long Term Care Consumer Guide at www.ltcohio.org.

Have a great month!

Barb Wolf
Administrator